“Take up a hobby that lets you breath and rest from the instrument, because it can be quite overwhelming at times.” That advice is a keeper.

We heard the great Cerminaro play the Strauss concerto # 1 w/the New York Philharmonic at Carnegie hall in 1971. Spectacular! An interesting lecture, but the acoustic sounds like the camera has a 3rd rate microphone---it's missing his far richer tone. Thanks for capturing this history. Mr. C's thinking is so honest and very helpful to our horn students. Fine post!

John was a horn virtuoso when he arrived at Juilliard. He drove me nuts because I would practice many many hours a day and he hardly ever practiced(I know because I was his roommate at Juilliard, and he was my best man at my (first) wedding). Yet he would pick up the horn and play beautifully, it was just natural for him. He has had a successful career. At that time(about 50 years ago), I thought his musicality was limited, but his technique and accuracy was excellent. I assume his musicality(emotional maturity) improved with further experience based on his accomplishments. He does sound quite different in this video than I remember him sounding, back then. I played with him many times back then(over 50 years ago), both in orchestras at Juilliard and Aspen(we used to spend the summers there at that music camp, studying under Phil Farkas). John and I are about the same age(both of us born in 1947). I assume he has retired by now. (as I have not seen much on the internet about him, following Schwarz's retirement and departure...which meant he had to go too, from what I have read). Seems like there is a whole new set of younger(very impressive) players I am seeing now on youtube. The world around music, has changed dramatically with computers now, which were not available to us back then. As a (retired) computer engineer, myself, I am very familiar with DAW computer programs like Logic Pro X, where a composer these days, can create an entire score, measure by measure, trying different instrument combinations, and then playing it back on the spot and hearing an actual replica of that combination of sounds. Really makes one appreciate how incredibly talented the older composers must have been, to write a complete composition with only the use of their head while imagining what it would sound like without that immediate feedback that composers of today, have available to them. But back to topic, from an audience perspective, there are many comments on the internet that I read recently about his past playing, which have always been quite positive. The many negative reports coming out of Seattle about personality conflicts puts a public, shadow of a cloud, on a career that otherwise appears to have been successful. (There were even rumors I read on the internet, that claim he was about to be fired when he left the NY Phil., not for his actual playing, but for his similar personality aggravating behaviors and obnoxious ego... but I do not know that for sure) The bottom line though, is, it never adversely affected his playing. It reminds me so much as to the way he was too, at Juilliard back then. I remember feeling back then, that to me, it appeared he would go out of his way to aggravate his peers by boasting about his great playing, like a fighter would taunt his opponent, only to perform (and win the battle) by his performing well. He actually seemed to feed off of that behavior which seemed to me, to motivate him to perform even better. And he rarely disappointed. As for Seattle, It seems the media tend to gravitate to, and exploit the bad situations happening between the personnel there, that got out of hand, and his personality(as I remember it and if not changed), would have exasperated the situation there,

One of the best things about this interview, for me, was hearing, "My wife and I were having a baby." All too often I watch interviews like this and they lack the human connection, we need more musicians with these communication skills and wonderful stories.

Please forgive my delay replying! Over these last dozen or so seasons, it's narrowed down to mostly my two Schmid horns: the triple (Bb/F/f-alto) in gold brass w/sterling silver bell flair in orchestras and the double (D/f-descant) solo instrument, used in these All-Star concerts. Due to timing, the 8 NYC concerts were slated between several solo appearances (before and after) thus, maestro Schwarz kindly permitted me to use the lighter horn rather than travelling w/2 instruments. I compensated w/my "grandioso" cup...however, with such a superb horn section matching things up so wonderfully, it seemed to blend in just fine. Yes, I still have my Alexander Bb/f-alto, Paxman Bb/high b-flat, and two pre-war Conn 8D's. I also briefly played a lovely old Raoux single Bb (Dennis Brain-vintage) & a choice Farkas-Holton double (also Phil's one-and-only Conn 8D...yes, you heard me correctly!) and my customized Finke triple plus various other horns along the way. Apologies, again. This is far too long an answer, but it's also been sooooo very many years of playing (8000-plus concerts...and still counting!). Warmest regards, with love & blessings to all... JC

Shame they ruined some of the recordings with mic preamps set wrong.... smh.

My heart has just been filled with inspiration! Cerminaro was one of the first players I ever listened to, he was a tremendous inspiration then and now after 19 years of playing the horn eight of them professionaly, he does not cease to amaze me! thank you Maestro Cerminaro!

この人の音本当に好き

Fantastic work. I played in the Cleveland Public Schools All-City Band and All City Orchestra when I was in High School. My horn teachers were James Anastasia and Jessica Connavino. our coach in All City from the Cleveland Orchestra was Martin Morris.

MR. JOHN FIRST OF ALL I LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE 1st CALV. AND THANK YOU FOR TEACHING ABOUT THE HORN IT SOUNDS BEAUTIFUL FROM A D.A. VETERAN

Love the bio/history, very cool and interesting! I really like these "learn about the___" videos the orchestra has done here!

Fantastic story, John!

I had the privilege of studying with John and playing( most weeks) fourth horn for him in the the Festival orchestra for four summers in the early 80's. His playing was exquisite and I never learned more than I did than being able to hear him play week after week.. Exquisite. Now that I am going back to playing 4 hours a day and getting back to professional level, I am Delighted John is doing these videos. Thank you , John. Once again you will be a source of inspiration and working knowledge, delighting me with your playing and insights! Thank you! Tom Heady

Thanks!

Does John give any private lessons? I know he used to play in the Seattle symphony. I live in Portland which is only a couple hours away from Seattle. I would give anything to take lessons from him. His horn sound and technical ability has always been an inspiration to me ever since I've picked up the horn.

I will be sharing this with my students at Berea College. I had the privilege of studying with Cerminaro at Aspen for several years. Love the bit about trying to find the perfect mouthpiece. Thanks for making this video, John!

Kudos to the assistant on the Shost 5 - hard to sneak in and out like that. I recognize Erik Ralske on third; is that Gail Williams on second? Whos are the pups on third and fourth horn?

What glorious symphony is being played @20:20?

I noticed he's wearing a 1st Cavalry division patch on his coat. Was he in the Army? Is one of his kids currently in the Army?

Wearing a 1st Cav pin.

John, we see online lists of the all-time greatest horn players posted by shameless media self-promoters, ludicrous even to we amateur players. Would YOU please give us your own top 10 best-ever list? Thanks, Saul

how much does french horn cost?

I'm kind of confused what your horn is. is it a compensating horn?

Mr. Cerminaro, I couldn't help noticing an injury to your forehead. It prompts me to ask: How do you continue performing well, even when injured or ill? Swollen and bruised chops are concert-spoilers for me--any advice?

WIsh he had stood back from the camera a bit!